Lidl workers in Ireland due for 'significant pay rise' as 700 new jobs on the way

Lidl has announced that all of its staff in Ireland will receive a pay rise from next month, with the budget grocer also announcing that it will create 700 jobs here later this year.

The welcome pay increase will come into effect from March 1, with all of the budget grocer’s employees will benefit from an increase on average of between €2,000-€2,500 per year. It marks a 7.5 per cent pay increase for employees amid the cost of living crisis.

In October the retailer also made a commitment to pay its staff the new Living Wage rate of €13.85, which was estimated by the Living Wage Technical Group. Lidl’s €14 million investment in pay increases for its existing workforce in the Republic of Ireland comes alongside the creation of 700 jobs around Ireland.

Lidl plans to open new stores later this year in Kilkenny, Limerick, Bettystown in Co Meath and Ballincollig in Co Cork, under a €550m expansion plan announced in 2021. The company is also expected to complete a €75m extension this year of its regional distribution centre in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Maeve McCleane, chief people officer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said that the retailer is committed to keeping prices as low as possible for customers. She said: "We have always been committed to keeping our prices as low as we possibly can and ensuring that any cost because of an increase in (the price) of doing business is not passed on to our customers."

The announcement of 700 new jobs at Lidl was welcomed by Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Simon Coveney. He said: "Lidl’s decision to hire an additional 700 employees this year is a real vote of confidence in the company’s long-term commitment to the Irish retail sector and the Irish economy as a whole.

"Given the current cost-of-living pressures that everyone is feeling, I’m delighted to see that Lidl is investing in giving their workforce a pay rise to support them.

The Minister added: "I wish to congratulate the entire Lidl team on reaching the milestone of over 6,000 colleagues employed across the country, the company has a very impressive story of growth to tell since it first came to Ireland 20 years ago."

This article first appeared on Dublin Live, 12th Feb 2023. Original link here.